It's Memorial Day weekend. Time for BBQs, flip-flops and frisbee in the park.
Unless you're in Seattle.
Here it's time to get the umbrella, make sure you've got an extra layer of clothes, and watch the rain. <...sigh, the furnace just turned on...>
It feels like it's been a busy time at Chez Creath. But none of the activity is happening in the garage. I've had the Ducati out twice but the Daytona and the Suzuki are both sedentary. I'm considering working on the Green Machine today. It seems that 4-wheeled toys may be a better option that 2-wheeled ones.
The biggest car-related news is the purchase of a portable GPS (Garmin Nuvi 1390T) for the Nitro. I'm not a fan of GPSes but I have to admit it's a nice little widget. Certainly a better choice than paying $1900 for the OEM navigation system.
On the topic of GPSes:
I'm a geek. I'm a motorcycle fan. But I am not a motorcycle geek. I just can't help but shake my head when I talk to riders with blue-tooth, radar, GPS, cell-phone, intercom, and an MP3 player on their bike. It's exactly the opposite of why I like to ride. For me the whole purpose is to get away. Why try to get away from it if you're just going to bring it along anyway?
Well, that's assuming the rain ever stops and I get a chance to get away.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Only in a Jeep
An unpleasant night.
The baby wouldn't sleep. She needed to be upright, moving, and holding onto her mother or I. Since momma is trying to shake off a cold I won the privilege of being a human crib. So there I was: baby in the carrier (of course it's from Jeep), unable to rest, or even really to sit down. 11pm to 2am. What to do?
Surf the internet.
I ended up reading a whole slew of articles on Sports Car Market. Here are some of the ones that caught my eye. (If you don't have an account to SCM get one. It's free and I don't think I've ever gotten a piece of spam from them. Sure 93.2% of the cars the talk about are way out of my league, but so are the Seahawks and I'm a fan of them too.)
BWM Z8
Being partial to the roadster style I loved this car when it first came out. Its appeal has faded. The lines aren't distinctive enough. There isn't that love-me-or-hate-me-but-I'm-not-compromising look about it. Which isn't to say I wouldn't like one. I see one occasionally around the office and it's always worth a second glance.
Not Your Typical F40
If you offered me my choice of Ferraris I'd take an F40. Maybe it's because I turned 16 the year these first came out. Posters of a red Ferrari and a white Countach were required in every boys room at the time. I loved the notion a race car that was changed just enough to be street legal. No A/C, no radio, no ABS. I understand some didn't have roll-down windows or even interior door panels. Just horsepower. They were known as unforgiving cars with 470hp, this factory competition car claims 850hp.
Maserati MC12
"The Enzo was designed for high-performance work but not for serious racing" Gee, life must be rough when your $650,000 Ferrari Enzo isn't getting done. Better get one of these.
Mercedes 300SL
Resto-modded by AMG? Hmmm... I like the resto-mod concept and AMG certainly has the ability to do it right. But there are some cars that should be left unmolested. (And those wheels have got to go.)
Doozy
My image of a leisurely Sunday drive down a wooded country road always includes a golden-era soft-top.
Testa Rossa
Sometimes I imagine that drive being a little less leisurely.
The baby wouldn't sleep. She needed to be upright, moving, and holding onto her mother or I. Since momma is trying to shake off a cold I won the privilege of being a human crib. So there I was: baby in the carrier (of course it's from Jeep), unable to rest, or even really to sit down. 11pm to 2am. What to do?
Surf the internet.
I ended up reading a whole slew of articles on Sports Car Market. Here are some of the ones that caught my eye. (If you don't have an account to SCM get one. It's free and I don't think I've ever gotten a piece of spam from them. Sure 93.2% of the cars the talk about are way out of my league, but so are the Seahawks and I'm a fan of them too.)
BWM Z8
Being partial to the roadster style I loved this car when it first came out. Its appeal has faded. The lines aren't distinctive enough. There isn't that love-me-or-hate-me-but-I'm-not-compromising look about it. Which isn't to say I wouldn't like one. I see one occasionally around the office and it's always worth a second glance.
Not Your Typical F40
If you offered me my choice of Ferraris I'd take an F40. Maybe it's because I turned 16 the year these first came out. Posters of a red Ferrari and a white Countach were required in every boys room at the time. I loved the notion a race car that was changed just enough to be street legal. No A/C, no radio, no ABS. I understand some didn't have roll-down windows or even interior door panels. Just horsepower. They were known as unforgiving cars with 470hp, this factory competition car claims 850hp.
Maserati MC12
"The Enzo was designed for high-performance work but not for serious racing" Gee, life must be rough when your $650,000 Ferrari Enzo isn't getting done. Better get one of these.
Mercedes 300SL
Resto-modded by AMG? Hmmm... I like the resto-mod concept and AMG certainly has the ability to do it right. But there are some cars that should be left unmolested. (And those wheels have got to go.)
Doozy
My image of a leisurely Sunday drive down a wooded country road always includes a golden-era soft-top.
Testa Rossa
Sometimes I imagine that drive being a little less leisurely.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
2010
As usual I have a single New Years Resolution for 2010. Same one I've had for about the last 12 years. "Finish more projects than I start." So far I'm about 2-of-11 on this resolution. It's just not in my blood I guess.
Will this year be different? Yes. But not necessarily because I'll be more focused. More likely it'll be different in the garage for the same reason it will be different everywhere: baby. (No, not "I love my car, she's my baby." I mean "Hey there's a pooping, screaming, yet somehow irresistibly cute baby living in my house.")
There are a few less $$ to go into starting new projects. So that'll help my resolution. And a few of the outstanding projects could bring in some $$. (Namely finishing and selling one of the cars and/or bikes.)
But, in addition to a drop in disposable income, the baby came with a little surprise: parental leave. My employer is quite generous with family leave so I have an opportunity to take alot of time off and maybe use some of that time to address some projects. ... One can always hope.
2010 will almost certainly have fewer trackdays than the last few years. But the schedule does work in my favor in some cases. Here are some of my options for motorcycle events:
Clearly I won't make it to all of those. But everyone of those dates is reasonable. Almost all weekends, and at the two nearest tracks. My main target is the 4 consecutive ORP dates Aug 28-31. (I have credit with NESBA from last year, and I'd love to see STAR on a track like ORP.)
Anyway, we'll have to see how things work out. Right now I'd be happy to get a few decent days just to get back outside.
Will this year be different? Yes. But not necessarily because I'll be more focused. More likely it'll be different in the garage for the same reason it will be different everywhere: baby. (No, not "I love my car, she's my baby." I mean "Hey there's a pooping, screaming, yet somehow irresistibly cute baby living in my house.")
There are a few less $$ to go into starting new projects. So that'll help my resolution. And a few of the outstanding projects could bring in some $$. (Namely finishing and selling one of the cars and/or bikes.)
But, in addition to a drop in disposable income, the baby came with a little surprise: parental leave. My employer is quite generous with family leave so I have an opportunity to take alot of time off and maybe use some of that time to address some projects. ... One can always hope.
2010 will almost certainly have fewer trackdays than the last few years. But the schedule does work in my favor in some cases. Here are some of my options for motorcycle events:
- MotoFit at Oregon Raceway Park May 29/30 (Memorial Day weekend)
- MotoFit at Oregon Raceway Park July 3/4
- NESBA at Pacific Raceways July 17/18
- 2-Fast at Pacific Raceways July 24
- SBNW July 28 - Aug 1
- 2-Fast at Oregon Raceway Park July 31/Aug 1
- NESBA at Oregon Raceway Park Aug 28/29
- STAR at Oregon Raceway Park Aug 30/31
- MotoFit at Oregon Raceway Park Sept 4/5 (Labor Day weekend)
Clearly I won't make it to all of those. But everyone of those dates is reasonable. Almost all weekends, and at the two nearest tracks. My main target is the 4 consecutive ORP dates Aug 28-31. (I have credit with NESBA from last year, and I'd love to see STAR on a track like ORP.)
Anyway, we'll have to see how things work out. Right now I'd be happy to get a few decent days just to get back outside.
Saturday, December 05, 2009
The Time-Value of Money
Earlier this week my parents sent me the original purchase contract for The Triumph. They bought it for just under $5100. It got me thinking: what could you buy with that today?
Adjusting for inflation $5100 in 1974 is equivalent to about $22000 in Dec 2009.
So off we go to Edmunds to see what comparable 2009-model car we can get for our $22000...
Mini Cooper:
A base-model Mini convertible starts at $23,900. Close enough. For that you get 2745lb car with
Pontiac Solstice
A base Solstice is $24,275. (And given the state of Pontiac I bet if you can find a new one you can get it for alot less.) The Solstice is a 2860lb car with
Mazda Miata
The Miata starts at $21,750. And that gets you a 2450lbs-reason why I have absolutely no respect for you. Why? Simple. In 1989 (when the convertible was considered nearly dead) Mazda came out with the Miata. By all accounts it was a fun, 2-seat, top-down, toy. Sounds good, right? Then they decided to market it as the "Return of the classic British Roadster". Sorry, no. It's a mass-produced toaster. So I refuse to spend any more time on it.
1974 Triumph TR6
The TR6 is a model of modern technology and innova... okay sorry, I couldn't contain that little laughing fit right there. A TR6 is 2450lbs chunk of iron. What you get is
The conclusions:
Hemmings Motor News
Sportcar Market Magazine
Adjusting for inflation $5100 in 1974 is equivalent to about $22000 in Dec 2009.
So off we go to Edmunds to see what comparable 2009-model car we can get for our $22000...
Mini Cooper:
A base-model Mini convertible starts at $23,900. Close enough. For that you get 2745lb car with
- 1.4L I4 engine (114hp, 118lb-ft of torque).
- 6-speed manual transmission
- 28/36 mpg
- Four-wheel ABS
- Traction control
- Stability control
- Front and side air bags
- 5-star roll-over protection
- A power convertible top (with remote control)
- Power windows, door locks, mirrors
- Air conditioning
- AM/FM radio with CD-player
Pontiac Solstice
A base Solstice is $24,275. (And given the state of Pontiac I bet if you can find a new one you can get it for alot less.) The Solstice is a 2860lb car with
- 2.4L I4 engine (173hp, 167lb-ft)
- 5-speed manual transmission
- 19/25 mpg
- 4-wheel ABS
- Trction control
- Stabilty control
- Front airbags
- 5-star roll-over protection
- Power windows and door locks
- No air conditioning (it's a $960 option)
- AM/FM stereo with CD player
Mazda Miata
The Miata starts at $21,750. And that gets you a 2450lbs-reason why I have absolutely no respect for you. Why? Simple. In 1989 (when the convertible was considered nearly dead) Mazda came out with the Miata. By all accounts it was a fun, 2-seat, top-down, toy. Sounds good, right? Then they decided to market it as the "Return of the classic British Roadster". Sorry, no. It's a mass-produced toaster. So I refuse to spend any more time on it.
1974 Triumph TR6
The TR6 is a model of modern technology and innova... okay sorry, I couldn't contain that little laughing fit right there. A TR6 is 2450lbs chunk of iron. What you get is
- 2.5l I6 engine (104hp, 140lb-ft)
- 4-speed manual tranmission
- About 23mpg
- No ABS (unless it counts as ABS if the braking system doesn't generate enough pressure to lock up the rear drums)
- Organic traction and stability control (in the form of a gas pedal and steering wheel)
- 0-star roll-over protection. The windscreen can support about 300 lbs. In a roll-over it will surrender faster than the French.
- No power door locks, windows, mirrors. Not even power steering.
- No airbags.
- No air conditioning
- AM/FM stereo with 2 speakers strategically placed to play into the drivers right knee and the passengers left knee.
The conclusions:
- You can get more bang for your car-dollar today than in 1974.
- A Miata is a bad choice unless you're shopping for a victim the local Truck-A-Saurus. [Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!]
- If you own a mini you'll have lots of company in Redmond.
Hemmings Motor News
Sportcar Market Magazine
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Priorities Change
I felt old before. Sometimes I think I had a mid-life crisis at 22. But now I'm really old.
On Sept 18th I became a dad.
(Excuse me while *I* have to reread that last sentence.)
I'm an engineer. Sometimes, when faced with a nearly incomprehensible statement like that one, I have to put some numbers on it to cope. Unfortunately not all numbers help. Here are a few that have passed through my head lately
This isn't helping.
So, what does this mean for the garage? I'm not sure yet. Certainly it will mean less funds to play with. The track season next year will be shorter (if it exists at all). I might have to give up the Seahawks season tickets. And, if you know anyone in the market for a Mallard TR6, please let me know.
On Sept 18th I became a dad.
(Excuse me while *I* have to reread that last sentence.)
I'm an engineer. Sometimes, when faced with a nearly incomprehensible statement like that one, I have to put some numbers on it to cope. Unfortunately not all numbers help. Here are a few that have passed through my head lately
- She'll be in the high school class of 2027.
- I'll be 56 at her graduation.
- In-state college will be about $32,000/year. Private school will be twice that.(Inflation adjusted)
- If I save $365/month starting now I might be able to cover 4 years of an in-state school.
- My dad, when he was my age, had a 13-year-old daughter and an 11-year-old son.
- The ratio of eggs-to-baskets just went from 1:1 to 3:1. (Was two people supported by two paychecks. Now three people on one paycheck.)
- When she gets her license The Triumph will be 51 years old. (Luckily, by then, there won't be any gas and all the cars will be DeLoreans powered by "Mr Fusion" so I won't have to worry about her wanting to borrow it.)
This isn't helping.
So, what does this mean for the garage? I'm not sure yet. Certainly it will mean less funds to play with. The track season next year will be shorter (if it exists at all). I might have to give up the Seahawks season tickets. And, if you know anyone in the market for a Mallard TR6, please let me know.
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